FIRE DEATHS / SCENES MariaTeresa A. Tersigni-Tarrant, PhD, D-ABFA Forensic Anthropologist- Skeletal Identification Services

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Arnold Randell Richardson
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1 1 FIRE DEATHS / SCENES MariaTeresa A. Tersigni-Tarrant, PhD, D-ABFA Forensic Anthropologist- Skeletal Identification Services St. Louis University Departments of Pathology and Surgery (CASE) 2 Fire Scene Recovery Two individual investigations conducted simultaneously Fire Origin and Cause Fire Death Investigation Goals: Determination of: Cause of Fire Identification of Victims Cause and Manner of Death of Victims Initial Responsibilities in Investigation of Fatal Fires Security of the incident scene Fatal fires will attract a crowd, additional assistance may be required Notification of appropriate agencies Local policy Police/Sheriff Medical Examiner/Coroner Responsibilities in Investigation of Fatal Fires At The Scene Investigation Teams Fire Department Arson Squad 1

2 Arson Squad Homicide Squad Crime Lab Investigators At the Laboratory Crime Lab Evidence documentation and examination Medicolegal Lab Autopsy examination Identification Documentation 6 7 Fire Scene Investigators Nose and Eye for Evidence Where did fire begin? How did fire start? Was it deliberately set? Sources of Evidence at the Scene Accelerant containers Incendiary devices Inflammable unburned materials Charred documents Location of the bodies at the scene Condition of bodies at the scene YOUR GOAL IS TO AVOID DESTROYING EVIDENCE Evidence is Destroyed when the body is: Moved Embalmed 2

3 Embalmed Buried or Cremated The circumstances surrounding death are ESSENTIAL in establishing mode and manner of death. 13 Incapacitation of Victim Emissions of toxic substances AND concentrations of carbon monoxide can produce a rapid effect on victims which can render them incapable of removing themselves from the situation Manner of Death: Fires Natural Death from disease-secondary fire Spontaneous combustion? Accident Death of firemen, victim, arsonist Alcoholics smoking in chair Suicide Self immolation, cover-up Fire secondary to suicide Homicide Arson, bombing, military-type action Murder cover-up Artifacts of Burning Soot changes external appearance markedly - cannot be removed usually Hair loss changes external appearance markedly Body can lose weight - up to 60% - largely moisture Body can shorten - up to several inches Flexor group muscle contractions pugilistic Light hair changes color with heat Gray becomes brassy blonde ( F) Brown hair tinges red after 400 F 3

4 Brown hair tinges red after 400 F Epidural hemorrhages are not uncommon, brownish and dry Subdural hematomas suggest antemortem trauma Splitting of soft tissue Can resemble laceration-no vital reaction Burns as Cause of Death? Extensive Body Burns % of fatalities Minimal external burns 10% of fatalities No Burns 60-90% of fatalities Body Burns from Fires Mechanism: Direct tissue damage Caused by flames or superheated fumes Increased temperature, oxygen and/or duration have roles in how much of the body remains Classification of Burns According to depth of tissue destruction First Degree Superficial- Outer later of skin (epidermis) No real blistering, may have some peeling of epidermis Typically red, swollen and painful Second Degree Blistering occurs Upper layers of skin are destroyed Sometimes scarring occurs Third Degree Full thickness of skin is destroyed Pain can be minimal if nerve endings are destroyed 4

5 Pain can be minimal if nerve endings are destroyed Healing occurs from the edges, scarring most often occurs Skin grafts usually needed Fourth Degree Severe charring Destruction of the skin and underlying tissue Extent of Burns Rule of Nines No Matter the Scene Before moving a body consider: Local policy Where photographs of body and scene taken Debris near body Damage that could occur by moving the body Take care not to cause additional injury to the victim when moving the body Be sure to photograph the scene before and AFTER body is moved Body Consumed by a Fire Chemical fires can reach several thousand degrees House fires about 1200 F Normal fire temperatures (house fire, most car fires) will not usually consume an adult A child can be reduced to small fragments in a short amount of time. 23 Burn Progression 650 C (~1200 F) assume even exposure to heat 10 min arms badly charred 14 min legs badly charred 5

6 14 min legs badly charred 15 min bones visible in face and arms 20 min skull and ribs exposed 35 min bones of upper and lower legs exposed 60 min+cremation with bones fragments ~ 2 lbs 24 CREMATION RADIOGRAPHS MUST BE DONE OF ALL FIRE VICTIMS TO RULE OUT HOMICIDE COVER-UP MOTOR VEHICLE FIRE ORAL AUTOPSY

7 SCENE IDENTIFICATION IMPORTANCE OF RADIOGRAPHS CAREFUL SCENE PROCESSING CAREFUL ANALYSIS BY TRAINED EXPERTS OTHER TYPES OF BURNS Scald Type Burns Can occur on skin, in mouth and air passages Immersion shows demarcation lines Scald Type Burns 7

8 Splashing/steam burns are usually limited to exposed areas Respiratory Tract Burns Common- look Carefully Flames inhaled down larynx Superheated air and burning vapors may be inhaled often associated with facial burns Denuding of air passages is common Soot usually obvious - usually only down to secondary bronchi Respiratory Tract Burns Coughing may disseminate soot into alveoli Usually not large amounts of soot in alveoli Soot cleared in 3-4 days in survivors Sloughed mucosa may be cleared later than that Aspirated gastric contents may simulate smoke damage Foreign body particles may be identifiable on tissue sections CARBON MONOXIDE Carbon Monoxide Produced by all carbon containing combustibles Produced in large quantities More concentrated if insufficient O 2 is available especially closed spaces or rapid burning Physically displaces O 2 available for breathing 200 fold affinity for hemoglobin over oxygen Level sufficient to cause death can accumulate 5-10 minutes in a closed single car garage 70 Physiological Effects of Carbon Monoxide 1% saturation 8

9 1% saturation Considered normal as a byproduct of anaerobic metabolism 10% saturation Possible with chain smoking and inhaling 15% saturation Adverse effect on visual activity and judgment 20 to 25% saturation Nausea 25 to 30 % saturation Headache 40% + saturation Loss of consciousness Long exposure may be fatal where illness in which oxygenation to tissues is impeded Anemia, emphysema, etc 50% + saturation Eventually fatal - may reach 90% Response and Effect of Smoke Care of the Victim* Examination of the Fire Victim Are there any thermal injuries? Was victim in a location where flames were present? Are the clothes present on the victim? Is the clothing burned? Can evidence of an accelerant be found on the clothing? Does the victim have any pre-existing medical condition that might have contributed to his death? Any past suicidal attempts and threats? Any history of depressive illness? Examination of the Fire Victim (Continued) Any evidence of trauma to the victim? Radiographic examination will assist in the determination of a gunshot wound or (non-fire related) fracture. Restraints (gag, noose, bondage apparatus) should be searched out 9

10 searched out Presence of carbon monoxide, cyanide, and other products of incomplete combustion must be determined by toxicologist analyses. Presence of soot in the airway indicates victim was breathing while in the fire environment Examination of the Fire Victim (Continued) Isolated burns are patterns that should be carefully inspected. Is there any evidence of torture? Fractures must be carefully assessed to rule out trauma vs. heat-related fractures Subdural hemorrhage may be an artifact of fire environment IF YOU DON T DOCUMENT IT, IT DIDN T HAPPEN 10

First Aid - immediate care that is given to the victim of an injury or illness until experts can take over - Oftentimes, it s the difference between

First Aid First Aid - immediate care that is given to the victim of an injury or illness until experts can take over - Oftentimes, it s the difference between life and death or recovery vs permanent disability